How to Cite a Social Media Post in APA Style
Introduction
Social media has become an essential part of our daily lives, and as a result, social media posts have become a common source of information and communication. However, when it comes to citing social media posts in APA style, it can be challenging. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to cite a social media post in APA style.
Understanding the APA Citation Style
Before we dive into the specific guidelines for citing social media posts, it is essential to understand the basics of the APA citation style. The APA Publication Manual (7th ed.) provides guidelines for citing a wide range of sources, including:
- Books
- Journal articles
- Online sources
- Images
- Films
- Music
- Government reports
- Theaters
Citing a Social Media Post in APA Style
A social media post is typically an online post that is created by a social media user, such as a tweet, a Facebook post, or a Instagram photo. To cite a social media post in APA style, you need to follow these steps:
- Identify the Author: Identify the author of the social media post. If the author is unknown, you can use the title of the post and the date of publication as the source information.
- Check the Source Type: Determine the type of source, which can be a:
- Web page
- Social media platform (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)
- News article (e.g. online news source)
- Podcast (e.g. online audio source)
- Use the Required Elements: Use the required elements to create a citation:
- Date: The date the post was published.
- Source Type: The type of source, such as Web page or Social media platform.
- Title: The title of the post or article.
- Author: The author of the post or article, if known.
- Publication: The publication information, such as the URL or the name of the publication.
- Include the Required Elements in the Citation: Include the required elements in the citation in the following format:
"In [Source Type], [Title] by [Author] on [Date]. Available at
Example:
Let’s say you want to cite a social media post that reads: "Just wore my new shoes to the grocery store! #shoeshare #grocerystore" posted by a user on Instagram.
- Date: No specific date is mentioned, but it is assumed to be recent.
- Source Type: Social media platform.
- Title: #shoeshare #grocerystore.
- Author: The user who posted the post.
- Publication: The Instagram page of the user who posted the post.
Citation in APA Style
The citation in APA style is in the format:
Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day). Title of Source. Retrieved from Website URL or Print Title
Example:
Smith, J. (2020, June 15). Just wore my new shoes to the grocery store! Instagram. Available at https://www.instagram.com/p/1234567890/
Table: Citing a Social Media Post in APA Style
| Source Type | Title | Author | Date | Publication | Retrieved from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web page | [Source URL] | [Author’s Last Name, First Initial] | [Date] | [Source URL] | https://www.url.com |
| Social media platform | [Title] by [Author] | [Author’s Last Name, First Initial] | [Date] | [Title] on [Source URL] | https://www.instagram.com/p/1234567890/ |
| Podcast | [Title] by [Author] | [Author’s Last Name, First Initial] | [Date] | [Title] on [Source URL] | <https://www.podcast.com/podcast episode/123> |
Adding the URL to the Citation
If you are citing a social media post that includes a URL, you should add the URL to the citation in the format "Retrieved from URL". This is because social media platforms often require the user to provide the URL of the post when they post it.
Citing Images
When citing images, the image itself is not considered a source and should not be included in the citation. However, the image caption or the information provided in the image description should be included in the citation.
Conclusion
Citing a social media post in APA style requires attention to detail and a thorough understanding of the basics of the APA citation style. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and reliable. Remember to always check the source type, title, author, publication, and date to create a complete and accurate citation.